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Dwight Freeney impresses Chargers

Ed Werder

ESPN | May 16, 2013

First-year San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy seemed impressed with free-agent defensive end Dwight Freeney during his San Diego visit, and he said the team will certainly design its defensive scheme to accommodate him if it can sign him.

Worth The Investment?

The Chargers were looking for a pass-rusher, but 33-year-old Dwight Freeney hasn't reached double figures in sacks since 2010, and the odds are stacked against him. Since 2000, only three DE-OLB types age 33 or older have reached 11 sacks.

Sack Leaders, DE-OLB, Age 33 or olderSince 2000

Player

Yr

Team

Sacks

Trace Armstrong

2000

Dolphins

16.5

Michael Strahan

2005

Giants

11.5

Jason Taylor

2007

Dolphins

11.0

Rob Burnett

2000

Ravens

10.5

James Hall

2010

Rams

10.5

Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

The Chargers use a 3-4 base defense and the 33-year-old Freeney was less effective in that alignment in his final season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he moved to outside linebacker.

One of the league's premier pass-rushers with 107.5 career sacks, Freeney became a priority for McCoy's team when former first-round pick Melvin Ingram suffered a season-ending knee injury during organized team activities this week that will require surgery.

Freeney had five sacks and 12 tackles in 2012, continuing a steady decline over the past few seasons. In 2011, he had 19 tackles and 8.5 sacks, which was down from 25 tackles and 10 sacks in 2010. And that was down from 2009, when Freeney had 31 tackles and 13.5 sacks.

Ingram, drafted 18th overall by the Chargers in 2012, started just one game and had one sack, 16 tackles and a forced fumble.

He was expected to take on an increased role this season with outside linebackers Antwan Barnes (New York Jets) and Shaun Phillips (Denver Broncos) signing elsewhere in the offseason.

The Chargers signed linebacker Thomas Keiser, who was waived by Carolina on Monday.

Keiser spent his first two seasons with the Panthers after joining them as an undrafted rookie from Stanford in 2011. He started his rookie season on the practice squad and was signed to the active roster for the final eight games in which he totaled four sacks, an interception and nine tackles. Last year, Keiser played in four games before being placed on injured reserve with a damaged left elbow.